Whether you work with children, have children of your own or just want to be prepared to help in case of an emergency, obtaining infant and child CPR training makes sense. In some professions, infant and child CPR certification is required. Infant and child CPR differs from adult CPR and requires separate training.
Identification
CPR refers to a series of chest compressions and rescue breathing administered to cardiac arrest victims, according to the American Heart Association. Although the procedures differ slightly, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, serves the same purpose for infants, children and adults. CPR keeps blood flowing to the victim's heart until normal heart function is restored or emergency personnel arrives to take over treatment.
Significance
Infant and child CPR provides initial emergency care for young victims of sudden cardiac arrest. Possible causes of cardiac arrest include ventricular fibrillation, coronary artery disease, inherited disorders and physical stress, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Causes of physical stress-induced cardiac arrest include intense physical activity, low levels of magnesium or potassium, significant blood loss or severely restricted breathing, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
Time Frame
Procedures for infant CPR differ from those for child CPR. An infant CPR class provides training specific to infants 12 months old and younger. Child CPR classes teach CPR procedures for children from 1 to 12 years of age. Organizations such as the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association offer combination training that covers both infant and child CPR, as well as classes specific to either infants or children.
Certification
Infant and child CPR courses are available online, on-site at training centers and in a combination of online and on-site sessions. The American Red Cross and the American Heart Association both provide information about upcoming courses by zip code on their websites, or you can call the American Heart Association at 1-877-242-4277 for course information.
Considerations
Not all infant and child CPR training courses meet specific certification requirements adopted by child care organizations, schools and other companies that require employees to learn CPR. Courses that are taught exclusively online, for example, often do not meet certification requirements. The American Red Cross and the American Heart Association trainings both meet most job-related training codes. When obtaining training for your job, check with your employer for approval before signing up for a CPR class.
